Planet Vanquo, Pef Empire

Grey Paladin Center

19 BBY

I made X2 the leader of the Grey Paladins, for a simple reason, and a dozen less simple.

He was trained as a Null Clone, and thus much better prepared for urban warfare and small squad tactics than any Jedi 'general'.

Plus, he was force sensitive but untrained. So I could mold him to my wish. And I did.

In one month, while the planet was being partly terraformed to remove the pollution caused by millennia of corporate style mining

Grey Xman became a moderate adept in with agelessness, dark healing, light healing and gene alter. And his genome was cleaned of stupid genetic mistakes that made him age rapidly.

A few hundred other former clone troopers found their way to Mandalore along with some Jedi, and were convinced to defend their new homeland from any threats, and with pretty big guns.

Having nice equipment and training helped.

The former Death Watch and Sun Guard also had to join, and receive rapid mnemonic education regarding the laws and actual warfare.

The Grey Paladins were all given the Force as well. Because force makes people lucky. And fast.

And after one month, the Chapterhouse is ready. A cube 20 kilometer on a side, placed in a Lagrange point between the planet and its moon. Took a lot of asteroids and droids to construct, but there will be room inside for a thousand corvettes or frigates,

along with barracks, training rooms, and a million jacuzzi baths.

I'll have to enlarge the space inside later, but one million SWAT equivalents will do for now.

Their families will live down on the planet, but operatives had to be ready to leave at a moments notice, and a huge grey cube was a statement anyway. We can build it, and you may resist. But, 'lower your shields, resistance is futile'.

In fact, that a motto written over one of the hangars doors.

Other mottoes were drawn from various other cultures that will mingle to form my paladins.

'Paladins never die, they just go to hell, and regroup.' ' We are the shield, that guards the galaxy'

And hundreds more, all inspiring and glorious.

And now the first graduates are lined up in front of me, and their leader Strategos Grey Xman.

"Proud Paladins, you were selected and trained to protect our civilization from danger. From bombs and kidnappings, to assassins and bioweapons. You wear the armor, so you can stand in front of the madmen and terrorists, and block their weapons with your armored chest. So that our children don't have to be afraid, or wear gas masks. You will go out there, and die to protect civilization.

It is your calling, and your duty. But above all, it is your honor. Death before dishonor!" I yelled on the podium, and thousands of voices yelled back.

Huh, this might even work. If they believed it, and the Force helped...

'I think it will work, mostly. The Force wants what people want. And if enough people want something...' Wialu said, somewhat interested, since 20 of her people also joined the Paladins.

'Perhaps. But a proton torpedo works pretty well to keep madmen in check' I said with an inner smile.

"You heard the Emperor, Paladins. I know you will do your best to keep our people safe. Our families down on Vanquo look up and feel safe, knowing we are here, ever vigilant and protecting them. And if you have personal divergences, work through them.

Half the galaxy depends on us now, to keep them safe. And everyone of you who will die, it will be while doing his duty. Make me proud, Grey Paladins! " Their Strategos proclaimed, not all that self-assured as my Voices could, but pretty good.

I'll have to guide them carefully a few months, until they gained some experience and confidence, but unlike in a democracy, the local leaders and politicians had no say about Empire wide policies. There will be no dragging feet or legal obstacles.

We had sufficient funds and armories to equip a billion potential Paladins. And we eventually will have them, or more.

But for now, every organic team of 10 people will be supported by 100 commando droids, wearing similar power armor.

Because a BX11 droid took 11 minutes to be printed, fully trained. While force-sensitive Paladins will take years to reach even Jedi Knight levels in force connection and intuition. The same as the Findsmen, who sent 1000 of their Gand new recruits to fill out the ranks.

The Echani sent 1000 girls to balance the genders a little. Hundreds of planets sent police officers or custom inspectors.

And now, there were 50 thousands Grey Paladins, and 500 thousands support droids all wearing the Armor, which cost about 50 thousand credits each. Plus ships and drops ships and weapons and equipment.

But compared with the Jedi, who were now some 200 adults and 4000 children, we had 50000 force sensitives, using modern weapons and tactics. And in about 10 years, those kids will not be Jedi anymore, but Paladins as well.

And from the Sanctuary, thousands more will come, as new generations trained to master themselves and the Force.

Perhaps the future could be better.

On Nam Chorios, I decided to evacuate the planet, removing every single sapient, except the Tsil. They wanted to stay. The planet became a fortress world, any traffic interdicted for a Gamma-class threat. And the droids that remain there are all variants without synthskin. It seems the droch can infect even synthetic tissues. The people there will stay in quarantine for a year, while we tested them for any kind of possible anomaly. Then the 'listeners' can be moved to Sanctuary.

Cularin system received a thousand more ships for the same reason. Not Darth Revan's fortress, but the insane Darkstaff. Again, everyone was forcefully evacuated and the system interdicted.

Kessel system as well, although it wasn't just the planet there. Pretty much the whole sector was considered Delta threat, and Kessel system and the Maw, Gamma-threat.

Planet Belsavis the same. I didn't have the means to deal with that kind of threat yet. But I wasn't going to let some smuggler release World Eaters or Devourers or whatever else there was in there.

And on Corellia, we let the Council know that Centerpoint station was also a Gamma-threat, or Galaxy ending event, and that letting squatters and smugglers live inside the station might mean their sun will die, by some kid pressing a button somewhere.

And if destroyed, the rest of the galaxy.

By next week, the station was evacuated and welded up, with 10 ships guarding it non-stop.

Sigh. Better than nothing, but I will have to visit it and learn what I can.

Anyway, the Iron Knights from Dweem will have to move, as that world will open for colonization.

Maybe on Malagarr?

'No way, not letting my family stay with that genocidal AI.' Luxum exclaimed at once.

'Okay then. On Ruul. Make the Jedi doubt their beliefs' I said a bit amused.

'They could be Paladins, Pef. It is a noble group, and my race can do electronic warfare pretty good.' my shard Voice argued, only not quite sincerely.

'Yes, They could. I haven't received any requests, from them or from Orax.' I answered sternly.

'I'll explain it to them. So, where do you want us to expand next?'

'Rutan and Atravis system . If the Sith take the planet 9 billion people will die. Kill their leaders if they object, but save the rest Luxum. Plus there're hordes of pirates around Tosste. And you have a billion of droids and 10 thousand ships. Use them' I demanded with a little push.

Come on girl. Don't expect me to do everything!

------------------------

Planet Atrisia, Pef Empire (under MPT)

"So you're the famous Avatar. You seemed taller in holovids" Empress Grace said with an amused tone.

"A trick of the light, most beautiful Empress. I am perfect the way I am. But your children might go hungry. If anyone dares to approach you that close" I answered with a charming smile, and made Reus and Ventress choke in surprise.

"You, I like. Not afraid to say what you think. But I might change your mind about some things..." the woman said, trying to keep herself from blushing.

"Perhaps, most enchanting Grace. But experience with vibrating toys is much different from the real thing. Miss Asajj here can confirm that first hand" I said with a wicked smile, and dodged the slap from the aggravated Empress.

"Y-you rude mongrel! Get out from my palace! Didn't your mother teach you manners?" She yelled now flushed with anger.

I just smiled calmly, and looked around with curiosity.

A few guards were smirking. A few generals were looking at me curious. Ah.

I was right after all. They wanted me to tame the shrew.

"Actually no. I wasn't born like the lower class, from blood and guts. We do have high class technology, unlike primitive planets. And I was raised by a droid. It worked perfectly, as everyone can see. I am smart, and rich, and quite popular with the opposite sex" I explained politely, then turned my back and went to kiss Keelyvine and then Asajj, while the Atrisian Empress sputtered at my back.

"Guards! Arrest him. Throw him out!" Grace yelled ungracefully.

Sigh. I was their leader now. She just didn't get it.

"Okay, fine. You can show me what you know, Empress. But remember, I won already" I answered amused, turning around and opening my arms for a hug, while lifting her a centimeter and gliding her in my arms with telekinesis.

After a few seconds, Grace realized her public blunder, and pounded my shoulder with a weak hand.

"Fine. You've won this battle Avatar. But the war will be long and bloody. And I promise I'll make you scream, when I win" she murmured in my ear.

Oh, I think you'll scream first, dear Grace.

Planet Denon, Corellian Diktat

19 BBY, three months later

"Moff Fliry Vorru , you are also Corellian, just like we are. Order your ships to stand down and surrender. This planet and their assets belong to Corellia, as part of the Clone Accords between Pef Empire and its allies. Denon is part of the Corellian Oversectorand will stay that way." The Corellian Admiral said on the holorecorder.

Now where was the help he was promised?

The holoconference was somehow enhanced, and another figure sliced in, breaking through the encryption like a lightsaber through steel.

"This is Admiral Etahn A'baht with the Pef Navy's 77th fleet. Those blips on the scanners are with me" the Dornean Admiral, who was already famous for destroying 100 thousand CIS ships at Celanon, said humbly.

And indeed, 15 thousands ships began emerging from hyperspace, 12 thousand corvettes, some 2000 cruisers and 1000 new ships, large enough to be called Dreadnoughts, at around 8 kilometers long, and with a prow made of a horizontal blade 3 kilometers wide, like a hammer-shark.

And those ships were not lumbering hulks like his 3 Meteors.

They accelerated greatly, almost at same rate like the Calamari MC80 Liberty cruisers escorting them. And if his computers were correct, they had 1000 heavy guns and 200 proton torpedo launchers on those ships, each.

There won't be a battle anymore. Not even this Galactic Empire could hope to defeat such a fleet. Not for a decade.

When did the Pef Empire had time to build a brand new fleet like this?

These were not the 100 thousand ships that Pef Navy obtained from the CIS after the Mustafar command center was captured. Not even the upgraded variants, which transformed the Munificent frigates into destroyers.

1000 of the cruisers were the new Strike design, that Pef Empire has also donated to Corellia, 500 were Recu carriers, no doubt loaded with droid starfighters, and 500 were Calamari made Liberty star cruisers. Block II it seemed, with 250 turbolasers each.

When the Corel droid said "Go ahead with the Denon liberation, 77th fleet is ready to assist", they figured it will be a 30 Meteor fleet, not this...whatever this was. A show of force, most likely.

From a weird and laughable ally, that Corellia Navy figured it will delay the CIS for a few months, to this. A juggernaut of production, of ships and droids so far.

Not to mention the Neti Grandmaster that their avatar had saved from Ossus, and whatever else they gave the Green Jedi, who were now twice or three times stronger, and most of all, still alive.

"You heard the man, Moff Vorru. Stand down, or some misunderstanding might happen, and your two thousand ships might evaporate in a minute or two of confusion" Admiral Rostek Horn said with a short smile.

Only 80 of those 2000 Galactic Navy ships were star destroyers anyway, but winning without a fight was even better.

It was good to have the upper hand. For once. And turn off the holoconference. The system was taken.

Master Halcyon muttered something beside him, like "...not again"

"You said something my friend? At least this time, you were not delivered back to Corellia in a kolto tub" Horn quipped with a light laugh. The Green Master will never get over that shame.

"Hey! That woman is evil, I tell you. She put everyone to sleep, and left only the desiccated body of the Jensaarai's leader behind. Even the Grandmaster is wary of her" Halcyon complained, like a schoolboy.

"Yesss. Very evil. She didn't even shave you, like the Avatar did to Skywalker. I say you got off easy, for going on a mission requested by Palpatine himself" Horn replied in a more serious tone.

They took the warnings more serious after that.

Even if that scare with the Centerpoint Station seemed blown out of proportion.

No matter. With Denon and Rendili for they own population centers to draw from, and with the quadrillions of credits they received as war reparations, Corellia will be great again.

"Admiral Horn, there is more to discuss" the hologram of the Dornean Admiral said, coming online on its own.

Great, now they could control the systems on his own bridge. Then again, the Meteors were made by this Pef Empire.

"Yes? Of course, I mean. What is it, honorable war hero" he managed to say.

"A specialist team will arrive to examine the station, and attempt to neutralize the threat. Their frigate is already landed on your flagship, on the left wing. In exchange, Exodeen and Belassa will be added to the Accords, and possibly Ojom and nearby systems, once the examination is complete. We will leave you 10 thousand corvettes as well, since your patrolled area will double from this expansion. Let us know if there's anything else you may need" the Pef Navy admiral said in a flat tone, like this wasn't adding some 500 systems to Corellian space.

"Alright then, I assume that frigate is cloaked?" Horn asked, to make sure.

"It sure is. It was there for 6 hours at least. Good fortune, and green dreams. May you die with honor!" the Admiral said curtly, and saluted with a fist, before the hologram vanished.

He looked around, then towards the bridge officers in charge of scanners.

"They had been here for 6 hours! Come on people! You can do better..." he muttered with a long sigh.

"I can't sense them at all. Whoever is on this team is scary good. Like that..." Halcyon whispered with wide eyes.

"Voice Wialu is on Teta, taking Kuar, or something. It's not her, this time" Horn said with a bit of amusement at his friend's panic.

"This is even worse then. They have more!" The Green Jedi complained, taking out a bottle and drinking a tiny sip.

"You drink? Since when?" he asked curious.

"Nah, this is medicine. Some plant extract." the Jedi said furtively.

Huh? Medicine eh? Brandy was a plant extract too, after all.